Thread: Czech & Speake No. 88

Well, I guess I've been on a bit of a tallow soap binge lately....

So, here it is: the mysterious, enigmatic C&S No. 88



Emerging


Aahhhhhh....


And the all important tallow first ingredients!


From the company website:
Quote:
"No 88
A favourite with men and women, our signature fragrance, No.88 is a truly English scent. The first and most complex in the Czech & Speake Aromatics Collection, No.88 has a fresh, woody top note of reviving and uplifting bergamot, the richness and warmth of geranium, rose otto, cassie and exotic frangipani. Combined with dry base notes of vetiver and sandalwood, this modern classic has a full-bodied, sophisticated sensuality. "


Complex is right.

I had heard that this was a rose smelling soap. But rose is not the first thing that leaps out at me anyhow. It certainly is in there, but it is surrounded by all sorts of other aromas. When trying to figure out how to describe the scent, the best I can come up with is that it is some sort of rose inspired potpurri. It has spicy, woody scents mixed with the rose. Damned if I know what frangipani is, but it certainly smells like it's in there! Or maybe it's the bergamot....like I said, it's complex...

I opted for the puck only and put it in a vintage silver plated mug. Still cheaper than the highway robbery they want for the soap with dedicated No. 88 black glass bowl. Makes me feel like I'm a refined gentleman as well.

Anyhow, not a boring scent by any means. I found myself sniffing it again and again trying to figure out what it smelled like (I couldn't).

So, down to business--had a shave with it this morning. Lathered up easy as pie. Good cushion, good glide, good scent. Nice. It did seem to dry out rather quickly, and I had a couple of "snowstorms" when re-lathering between passes due to the previous lather having dried out completely. That wasn't a problem when shaving, as I face lather immediately prior to putting the blade to my face, and refresh the lather as I see fit. Nice shave, easy BBS.